Flexible stay-bolt connection.



P. F. GALLAGHER.

FLEXIBLE STAY son CONNECTION.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 27. i917.

1,300,832. Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

P. F. GALLAGHER.

' FLEXIBLE sm' Bou` CONNECTION.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 21. 19H.

Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

BETER. F. GALLAGHER, 0F REW DORP, NEW YORK.

FLEXIBLE sTAYBoLT CONNECTION.

Sgecication of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 15, 19519.

Application led October 27, 1,917: Serial No. 198,883.

To all whom. t may oonoern:

Be it known that I, PETER F. GALLAGHER, n citizenl of the United States,residing at New Dorp, iin the county of Richmond and State of New York,have invented new and useful Improvements in Flexible Stay-BoltConnections, of which thel following is al specification.

This invention relates to a. flexible sta-y bolt connection foryieldingl'y connecting u rigid stay bolt with a boiler sheet in such nmunner to permit the bolt to yieldV uniformly in ulfl directions Withoutsubjecting the bolt or boiler sheets to undue stre-ilus es e result ofvariable movements of the parts due to expansion and' contraction'.

An object of the invention is to provide e. tlexible connection of thespring sleevetype which obviotes the use of'eliosure-eeps, which allowsthe bolt to have a. maximum degree ot yielding moti-on, which insures ehigher degree of uniformity in the expansion and contraction of thebolt, and which comblues maximum efficiency of operation with simplicityand cheufpness of construction and general economy `nd dura-bility inuse.

Another object of' the invention is to provide a spring sleeveconnection which may be produced in a simpl-e manner and' with verylittle skilled or costly machine Work, which embodies improvedlmeans forstrongly und dwmbly connecting the seine withtheY boiler sheet andpermitting circulation of the Water about the bolt to en increased eX-tent to secureI greater uniformity of contraction endf expansionthereof, and which further embodies improved Ineensfor preventing theaccumulation off mud, seele and other simi lfar obstructions Within thesleeve.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and; clei'med,reference being had to the eccompanyingdrawing, in` which Figure 1 is aView showing the end of' a. stay bolt in side elevationand the boilersheet and' sleeve in section, the plane of seetion being longitudinallyof or parellel with the exis of the bolt.

Fig. 2 is a. vertical transversesecti-on on line 2"-2 of' Fig: I.

Fi s. 3, 4i and 5 are views illustrating certain consecutive steps ofmanufacture in producing e form of spring sleeve embodying my invention.

dared end spread to Fig. 6' is a ViewV Simile-r to Fig. 1, showingA amodified form of spring sleeve.

Fig. 7 is a. transverse section on line -Z of 6'.

Fig 8f is :i` view simi-ler to Figs. 1* and 6, showing another modified*form. of'sleeve and. a modified; form of bolt.

Fig. 9 is e vertice] transverse section on line 9-9 of 8*.

Referring to the draw-ings, l design-etes u rigid stay bolt, one endl ofwhich is threaded for engagement with a threaded opening inf the innerboiier sheet, such threaded construction not being shown, and the otherend of which is threadedz at 2- for engagement With e bushing or sleeve3: {itted in theouter boiler sheet 4. rrlhe tlireeded end Q of the boltis provided with an abutment heed 5` end en angular stud crfprojeetion5", such stud being adapted for engagement with a. Wrench or s imilertool employed for threading it into or out off engegement with the innerboiler sheet andi bushing.

The bushing or sleeve 3` is mede oic spring metal and is preferably droprged o-r otherwise struck up from e single piece of sheet mete-11l Itcomprises e tubo-ler innerend 6 fitted Within an opening inthe sheet 4f,an instruek tubular outer end 8 internelly threaded to receive endengage the threaded end 2r ofj the bolt, an ereuately curved, bowed o1'Soren-shaped bodyl portion 9 connected at its outer portion with seidinstruek tubular end 8, und' im agir lerly disposed neck poll-tion 1:0#oonnectigthe said body` portion 9 with the tubular inner end Ortion 6;

The tub r` imner end rtion 6 mede initially of slightly smal er diameterthan the opening 7 the Sheet 4 and, after being fitted in said' opening,isexpanded int'o en-l gaiement with 'the thereof to folrma, tigtconnection.l l'n addition the; inner extremity of said end 1gortion 6 ispreferably- I rm a bea/d 11` engaging the inner or Waterside of thesheet, thus increasing the seclufityof the mechanical connection andadditioneli A sealing the, joint against leakage. The, mternagl threadsof the outer end portion 8' ere suitably formed after the bushing orslfeeve is made md prior to its applcation to the sheet 4, and; othersaid bushing is applied the bolt 1 is inserted therethrough `from theexterior of seid sheet, end screwed at its innerv and outer ends intothe threadcfdjt opening in the inner sheet and into the end portion 8.The head 5 of the bolt is initially formed thereon yand by means of theangular stud or projection 5 the bolt may be readily and convenientilscrewed into and out of lace. When t e bolt is applied the flat 'ace ofthe head 5 bears against the outer face of the end portion 8 andpreferably against a soft metal gas-- ket or packing ring 12 fitted in arecess 12 in the end portion 8, thus preventing leakage of water andsteam throughthe threaded joint. By the mode of connection described theuse of caps is avoided, and the practice of upsetting or forinin thehead 5 after application of the fbolt o viated. As la result the boltmay be removed by simply unscrewing it when it is necessary to replaceit with a new bolt, and without the necessity of drilling out the boltas when applied in the customary way.

In vaccordance with my invention the body portion 9 of the bushing orsleeve is made scroll-shaped, or arcuately bowed or curved on acomparatively wide radius, and said body portion 9 is connected. withthe outer extremity of the tubular inner .end portion 6 by a neckportion 10 which flares outwardly with relation to said inner endportion substantially at an acute angle thereto. By reason of thisconstrue tion several desirable and important advantages arel obtained.In the Vfirst place the walls of the body portion and neck are spacedfrom the outer end .portion 8, which projects into said body portion,thus forming an annular channel 13 extending entirely around the portion8 and threaded end of the bolt and an outwardly diverging passage 14leading from the bore of the inner end portion 6 to said channel. Theend portion 8 isthus entirely spaced from the internal walls of thevbushing, allowingl the water from theboiler ,tofilow` freely into thebody of 'the bushing and about'the threaded joint, so that the bolt, 1will be heated to a more uniform degree throughout and a greater degree.of ,uniformity of ex ansion and contraction` thereof secured. t thelsame time, owing vtog, the described curvo of, lthe body portionand itsspaced relationship to the endportion, the end portion 8. is free tohave a wide range of flexible motion to permit ofjand compensate ,forlongitudinal and universal lateral; expansions and contractions ofthebo1ts. and sheets, dueto variations in the expansion and lcontracition thereof. In,these movements the Aouter end of the bolt will be,supported solelyby the end portion Sand .the dy portion4 9. is free to.hays springrniotionior flexing actionat three points, to wiaatorl.about its center, at or about itspoint ofeonnection with the neck 1Q,and at or about its point of connection with .the end refrtien giving eWlder range of flexibility than would be possible it' the end portion 8were in contact at any point with the body portion or neck. Fui'-thermore, the area of the channel 13 is such as to avoid theaccumulation of a sufficient amount of mud, scale or other depositsliable to interfere with the flexibility of the portion 8, and as theWater can have a free circulation between said channel and the spacebetween the boiler sheets the washing out of more or less of any foreignmatter which may be deposited within the channel is insured. Bydisposing the neck portion 10 at the angle stated the passage 14 is madeof comparatively wide area and at thesame time a V-shaped space isproduced between said neck portion and the outer surface of the sheet 4for the reception of a welding compound 15, whereby the bushing orsleeve ma be welded to the sheet when such an ad itioiial mechanicalfastening and sealing action is desired.

An important advantage incident to my construction resides in the factthat by providing a bushing or sleeve of the forni shown, such 'bushinor sleeve may be entirely or substantie ly of uniform thicknessthroughout, gaining its wide range of flexibility or s ring action fromits peculiar formation, an obviating the necessity of securing a springaction by making the buslr ing of variable degrees of thicknessthroughout. I am thus enabled to drop-forge or otherwise form thebushing or sleeve so as to be initiall of uniform or substantiallyuniform thic ness, and without the necessity of employing expensivemachine Work, where by a bushing of maximum simplicity may be producedat a. comparatively low cost from the standpoint of material and labor.

In Figs. 3, 4 and 5 I have illustrated one method of manufacturing thebushing which may be employed. In carryin out this method a blank 16,composed o a disk or plate of sheet metal of proper form and size, isfirst formed, such blank being rovided with a central opening 17 of aorm to receive a projection upon a male die. B the action of male andfemale dies the blank is then iven the shape shown in Fig. 4, in which te body portion of the blank is struck up into tubular sha e and thecentral portion thereof projected into the outer end thereof, suchportion producing the outer end portion 8 of the finished bushing. Theinner end portion of the tubular body shown in Fig. 4 is then contractedor sw ed inwardly, as shown in Fig. 5, resulting in the reduction of theinner end portion 6, the d portion 9 and the neck portion 10. After thebushing is formed asshown in Fig. 5 the interior of the end por-tion 8is threaded in any ordinary manner and the bushing applied to the sheet4 in the manner previously described. This method alwhichpurposes the.said end portion may be modifiediin :forni lbya, secondary shapingaction. By mimethod of construction it is Vpossible toi-ilsmmuoh lightermaterial than `lsarequired ,in ,the-,use iof machined sleeves,

ranitem ofadvantage in thatit is a` well known fact in ,boilerconstruction that the lighter the material .used (with proper fac- .tor,of safety) the longerrthe life of the `iboiler and leSS liability ofcracking of plates.

VBy employing the .Inode of application shown .in Figs. 1 and 2, andalso in Figs. 6 and 7, as hereinafter described, I do away with thenecessity of threading the bushing .into the boiler slieet,reducing the`cost of constructionfand liability of leakage. In AEigs. 1 and 2,1 haveshown the use of a clearer device 4,for cleaning ,the bushing of any`accumulated mud, scale or other deposits when desired. ',llhis clearerdevice consists-pcf alink chainflSof. ring form which surrounds theboltand which is secured at diametrically opposite sides of the bushing.ito threaded plugs 1 19, fitted -in threaded openings in the body of thebush,- ing. Under the normal circulation of the water and steam thischain is kept slightly in motion to breakup the deposits and allow themto be washed out. Whenever any accumulation of deposits occurs, however,by simply removing the plugs 19 and using them as finger pieces ormanipulating devices the chain may be moved back and forth within thebushing to free the deposits for a clearing action.

In the modified form of my invention shown in Figs. 6 and 7 a bushing ofthe same general construction as that illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 isdisclosed, the only difference being that instead of positively Hangingor beading the portion 6 a slight flare or lip is produced, as shown at11', to seal the joint between the bushing and wall of the opening 7 andassist in holding the bushing against any liability of outwarddisplacement.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the portion 6 of thebushing is illustrated as externally threaded at 6 to fit within athreaded opening 7 in the boiler sheet 4, which construction may beemployed when desired, and in this form oi the invention also the outerend of the bolt is provided with an inner cylindrical threaded .portion20 having an outer flarin or tapered threaded portion 2.1 to fit witiincorrespondingthreaded portions 22aud 23 of the inturned end portion 8',enabling a secure fastening and sealing connection to be produced whenit is desired to dispense with the use of a washer. In this form of theinvention I have also shown the outer endof the bolt 1 provided with atell-tale passage `24 opening through its outer extremity,

whereby in the event of the fracture of the bolt steam will be allowedtoV escape to the atmosphere to indicate a leak and jthat replacement isnecessary.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim:

1. A Iflexible sleeve for stay bolts having a tubular inner end portionto fit within an opening in a boiler sheet, a tubular, internallythreaded outer end portion projecting into and terminating withln thebody of said sleeve,ra body portion curved on the arc of a circle toform a spring member, said body portion being of greater diameter thanthe tubular inner end portion., and a neck ortion extending outwardly atan angle rom the tubular inner end portion and connecting the same withthe body portion, said body portion and neck portion being continuouslyspaced from the inwardly projecting outer end portion to provide anannular channel around said tubular outer ,end

portion and a passage connecting said chan- A.stantially' of likethi-ckn-ess throughout.

2. A fiexible sleeve for stay bolts formed from a single piece ofmaterial of substantially uniform thickness throughout, said sleevecomprising a tubular inner end portion, a tubular ou-ter end portionprojecting inwardly into and terminating within the body of the sleeveand adapted for connection with an end of the stay bolt, a body portioncurved on an arc of comparatively wide radius and connected at its outerside with the outer portion of the sleeve, and a neck portion extendingsubstantially at an acute angle outwardly from the outer extremity ofthe tubular inner end portion and connecting the same with the curvedbody portlon, the inner extremity of the tubular outer end portion beingconstantly spaced at all points from said body portion and neck.

3. Means for yieldingly attaching a stay bolt to a boiler sheet,consisting of a housing having terminal axially alined and permanentlyspaced sleeve members for engagement respectively with the bolt andsheet and a relatively bulged resilient annular arched member connectingsaid terminal members and maintaining them permanently in axiallymovable relation.

4. Means for attaching a stay bolt to a all boiler sheet, consisting ofa housin for receiving a bolt, and comprising axial y alinedindependently movable, permanently spaced sleeve members connected by anannular axially yieldable arch member, one of said sleeve members beingengageable with a boiler sheet and the stay 'bolt being engageable withthe other sleeve member and axial extension through the first namedsleeve member. f

5. A stay bolt anchoring device consisting of an annular longitudinallyarched housing having terminal reduced permanently spaced sleeve membersfor respective engagement with a boilersheet anda stay bolt.

6. The combination with a 'boiler sheet having an openingtherein, of astay bolt connection comprising a bowed body portion curvedon an are ofcomparatively wide radius, an outer internally threaded end portionprojecting into said body portion, an inner end portion of relativelysmaller diameter than the body portion and fitted in the opening in theboiler sheet, and a neck portion extending outwardly at an angle betweenthe inner end portion and the body Jortion, said neck portlon beingarranged to orm an angular space between the Same and the boilersheet,and a welding material disposed in saidspaee and welded to the neckportion and boiler sheet.

7. A staybolt anchoring device consistin of terminal spaced sleevemembers connecte by an annular bulged intermediate member capable offlexion to permit relative axial movement of the terminal members, thelatter being adapted for respective engagement with a stay bolt and aboiler sheet.

8. A stay bolt connection for boiler sheets comprising a bushing sleeve,a bolt extending through said sleeve and in threaded engagementtherewith', a clearer within the sleeve for the removal of deposits,andmeans for manipulating said clearer.

9. A stay bolt connection for boiler sheets com risinor a'bushingsleeve, a stay boltexten ing t rou h and inthreaded en agement with sais1eeve,a ringmhaped c earer of link material disposed within the sleeveand surrounding the bolt, and manipulating members engaglng the sleeveand adapted for disengagement therefrom whereby said clearer may bemanipulated.

10. A Stay bolt connection for boiler sheets comprising a sleeve inwhich a portion of a stay bolt is adapted to 4be mounted, and meansWithin said sleeve actuated by the circulation of water and steamtherein to reduce accumulation of de osits.

11. A stay bolt connection for boiler sheets comprisinga sleeve pinwhich a portion of a stay bolt is adapted to be nl ountc, and meanswithin said sleeve-adapted -to surround said boltand-aetuated by thecirculation ,of WaterV and steam therein to reduce accumulation ofdeposits,

In testimon ywhereof I aliix my signature,

ETER F. GALLAGHER.

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Washington, D. 0."

